Thursday, August 16, 2012

The Deep End

Pictures coming
tomorrow, hopefully! The ones I took today are no good.

Today has been a test for me.

I have unofficially set several goals for myself in this new
adventure. Some of them I started before I left and others have been wavering
in my mind for quite some time. I’m terrible with resolutions, because once I
sense failure, I easily abandon the cause for another more worthy. So I have
tried to be less definitive in my goal setting in hopes that I can work on
things as they come. I now, however, believe that some definition might aide in
progress.

Learn to say “no” and be less of a go-to person
for things.

Be more flexible and carefree.

Ask fewer questions and resist the need for
clarification.

Figure out and remember what is really
important.

Categorize frustrations with the Serenity
Prayer. Is this something I cannot or can change? What is the difference?

Appreciate the outdoors and spend more time
there. (This one has been the most successful!)

We were scheduled to move into our apartment today. Susan
and I were very excited to see the new place and prepared to sleep there
tonight, even if it meant passing out on the floor without air conditioning.

I awakened early to pack my bags and still have time for
breakfast. I knew it was likely the bus and/or persons involved would be late,
and because of Goal #2, I was not worried. Some of the others were just viewing
their apartment today, planning to drop off some items and move-in officially
tomorrow. Marcia, Susan and I were ready to move, though, and were told to be
ready.

Turns out, everyone’s apartment was ready except for ours. So, bags back up to the
hotel room, check-in at the front desk (again) and try to talk someone into
letting us at least see the apartment since a shopping trip was scheduled later
in the day. The small bus of folks living in school housing left around 10. At
this point I stopped putting effort into Goal #3, mostly because I was
expending too much energy trying to stay calm. I put the situation out of my
mind.

We drove to several apartments so others could look at their
assigned buildings. Ours was second to last, and though great potential
engulfed each room, it was not nearly finished. Light fixtures, counters, air
conditioners, etc, all needed to be put in and we were promised everything
would be finished before tomorrow. It is interesting, because another group was
frustrated because of the size of a bedroom and I was telling them that they
could switch with me if they did not want the small room (I don’t mind small
rooms). Some things I am very flexible
with, but at other times, I feel so rigid. It is probably because I still have
yet to understand about my personal basic comfort level.

I was excited again, and even glad that we were not moving
in right away. But I think the administrative assistant handling our viewing
was worried the apartment would not be done in time, so they showed us another,
basically the same but almost completely finished. I was even more excited.

I won’t try to tell you about the shopping market (think
Target X 1,000,000), which I found quite overwhelming, causing sensory overload
and an internal breakdown. I won’t go into feeling like I was turning into a
leader while on the bus and my great concern about Goal # 1. I won’t go into
challenges in working through the above issues while in a culture that does not
have: lines, order, schedules, routine (except prayer) but has an abundance of
kindness and patience. It is kind of like a non-swimmer being thrown into the
deep-end (but sometimes that is the only way to learn).

I learned a lot today. I learned how some of my
goal-settings have limits or boundaries that will need to be stretched and
expanded slowly. I learned that there is extraordinary value in patience and
freedom. And I learned that I can and will make progress, even if it is slow
progress.

And I remembered that I need to learn Arabic. As fast as
linguistically possible.

2 comments:

Good goals. Good ol' Egypts. When do you start your job?I realized that I have questions for you, but you have probably answered them in previous posts. So a-reading I will go. Soonish. When I have some time. More pictures, though, k?